Protective ground collar

ABSTRACT

For enveloping upright elements such as trees, posts and the like at ground level to inhibit the growth of vegetation, a collar is formed of flexible water resistant sheet material and a main opening is formed therein from which a main slit extends to the outer edge of the sheet of material, the main slit being for the purpose of facilitating envelopment of a tree trunk and the like. A plurality of radial inner slits are formed in the sheet and extend outwardly from the central opening to define a plurality of flexible fingers which are disposed against the tree trunk or post to inhibit plant growth. Preferably the sheet is of laminated construction and the inner slits are formed in such manner that the fingers formed in the two laminated sheets are disposed in staggered relationship and the main slits in the two sheets are disposed out of coincidence with each other.

United States Patent [72] lnventor William J. Carter, Jr

4700 LaVista Road, Tucker, Ga. 3008 [21] AppLNo. 803,146 1 [22] FiledFeb. 28, 1969 [45] Patented Mar. 23, 1971 [54] PROTECTIVE GROUND COLLAR7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 47/25, 47/32 [51] lnt.Cl ..A01g 17/00 v [50] FieldoiSear-ch47/23-28, 30, 32-3; 119/1 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS104,418 6/1870 Brunson 47/25X 1,931,602 10/1933 Colman 47/25 2,978,8374/1961 Daniels... 47/25 2,999,479 9/1961 Carder 47/23X 2/1967 Matts on47/25 FOREIGN PATENTS 783,798 7/1935 France 462,525 10/ 1968 SwitzerlandPrimary Examiner--Robert E. Bagwill Attorney-Walter M. Rodgers ABSTRACT:For enveloping upright elements such as trees, posts and the like atground level to inhibit the growth of vegetation, a collar is formed offlexible water resistant sheet material and a main opening is formedtherein from which a main slit extends to the outer edge of the sheet ofmaterial, the main slit being for the purpose of facilitatingenvelopment of a tree trunk and the like. A plurality of radial innerslits are formed in the sheet and extend outwardly from the centralopening to define a plurality of flexible fingers which are disposedagainst the tree trunk or post to inhibit plant growth. Preferably thesheet is of laminated construction and the inner slits are fonned insuch manner that the fingers formed in the two laminated sheets aredisposed in staggered relationship and the main slits in the two sheetsare disposed out of coincidence with each other.

PATENTED M23 I97! INVENTOR [WILLIAM J. CARTER,JR.

ATTORNEY disposition about the trunks of growingtrees, bushes, fenceposts and other upright elementsand effectively inhibits the growth ofundesired vegetation in the region immediately adjaeent trees, fenceposts and the like. According to a feature of the invention the groundcollar .is specially constructedso as effectively to preclude the growthof undesired vegetation in the region immediately adjacent the uprightelement. This result isaccomplished by providing internal slitsextending from an opening formed in a flexible sheet and by constructingthe opening in such manner that it is slightly smaller and of generallysimilar configuration to the upright element. I

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a treeabout which the protective collar con-.

structed according to this invention is disposed at ground level; FIG. 2is a perspective view which is partially exploded and which shows theelements from which the collar is formed; FIG. 3 is a plan view of thecollar depicted in FIGS. 1

and 2; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a special modificat'mn of theinvention; and in which FIG. 5 is a plan view of still another versionof the invention which is speciallyadapted for I use in conjunction withinanimate objects. I

I I In the drawing the numeral 1 isused to designate the trunk of agrowing plant such as a tree or bush and the numeral 2 is used todesignate generally a ground collar constructed according to thisinvention. Ground collar 2 comprises a laminated construction as bestshown in FIG. 2 and includes a first sheet 3 shown partially broken awayand made of flexible water resistant material to which is affixeda-second sheet 4 of the same or similar material. A main slit 5 isformed in sheet 3 and a main slit 6 is fonned in sheet 4. As is apparentfrom coincidence. Formed in' sheet 3 is a plurality of inner slits 7which communicateat their inner ends with a main opening 8 formed insheet 3'. An opening 9 is formed in sheet 4 and coincides with theopening 8 in sheet 3. A plurality of inner slits 10 are formed in sheet4 and extend radially outward from main opening 9 formed in sheet 4. II

As is apparent from FIG. 2, sheets 3 and 4'constitute a unitary collarwhich is arranged for disposition about the trunk of a growing tree forexample as shown in FIG. 1. Furthermore, from FIG. 1 it is apparent thatthe flexible fingers l l which are defined by radial inner slits 7 aredisposed in staggered-relationship to the flexible fingers 12 defined byinner radial slit 10 so that an effective and snug enveloping action isachieved according to aifeature of the invention.v From FIG. lit is ap-'parent that undesired vegetation is precluded from growing in the regionimmediately adjacent plant 1 due to the staggered relationship offingers 11 and 12. Furthermore the staggered out of coincidencerelationship between main slits 5 and 6 of sheets 3 and 4 precludes thegrowth of vegetation through the main slits.

For the purpose of enlarging the area about tree 1 about that a singleunitary sheet could be used with the two series of fingers formedintegrally with the single sheet and in staggered relation. The termsheet may denote a unitary sheet or a pair of separate staggered sheets.

Of course for cei-taimapplieations of the invention it may be desirableto eliminate the third sheet 13 altogether and enlarge sheet 4,to thesize of sheet 3 since it is obvious that for certain applications of theinvention, for example, to small plants and bushes, the arrangementshown in the lower portion of FIG. 2 comprising sheets 3 and 4 isadequate when sheets 3 and 4 are of the same size.

Where a square or rectangular post is to be enveloped by a groundcollar, the version of the invention depicted in FIG. 4 may be employed.In that figure, the flexible sheet 17 is provided with a main slit l8and a cover flap therefor shown in dotted lines and indicated by thenumeral 19 together with inner slits designated by the numeral 20 whichdefine flexible inner fingerlike elements '21 which lie against the post22. Of course the opening defined by the inner edges such as 23 of thefingers 21 is smaller than but of the same general configuration as theexterior of post 22.

In FIG. 5 still another modification of the invention is shown in whicha single flexible sheet 24 is employed and in which mainslit 25 isformed. A cover flap 26 overlies main slit 25 and opening 27 is formedcentrally of sheet 24. Inner radial slits 30 define therebetween thefingers 28 which envelop the outer periphery of a device such as a tree,post or the like. In the case of the arrangement of FIG. 5, the innerperiphery of the opening 27 is of smaller size and generally of the sameconfiguration as the element with which it is to be used such as agrowingtree, a post and the like.

For insuring that the collar will snugly envelope the upright element ofFIGS. 4 and 5 it is desirable to secure the fingers to the uprightelement by a suitable water resistant friction element such as frictiontape or the like.

For holding the ground collar in snug engagement'with the ground, aplurality of 'pins such as are designated at 29 in FIG. 1 may beemployed. Of course these pins are simply driven through the groundcollar and into the ground and serve to hold theground collar securelyin place.

With the ground collar installed as shown for example in FIG. 1,undesired growth of vegetation in the region immediately adjacent thetrunk of the tree 1 is prevented. Thus it is possible to mow around thetrunk of the tree with conventional mowing equipment with ease since theblades of the cutting equipment will clear the collar when travelingabove the collar. 'Furthen-nore, the ground collar of this invention maybe colored and constructed so as to simulate the appearance'of earth,pine straw orgrass or any other ground cover as may be desired. v

Material which is suitable and'economical for use in forming the groundcollar may be of any desired type. Felt material impregnated withpolyurethane resin is' well suited for the invention. Such materiaIiswater resistant and hence is durable over a substantial period of timeand the cost thereof is not excessive.

I claim:

l. A ground collar for enveloping the trunk of a growing 7 plantcomprising a generally flat flexible sheet having a slit thereinextending from its outer periphery inward to accommodate placement ofthe collar about the plant trunk at ground level, a first series ofradially disposed fingers formed in said sheet and arranged to envelopthe plant trunk, and a second series of radially disposed fingers fonnedin said sheet and in overlying relation with said first series andcovering the spaces between the fingers of said first series.

sheet 13 and an overlying flap l6 precludes the growth of vegetationthrough main slit 15.

While it generally is preferable to construct the deviceas 2. A groundcollar for enveloping the trunk of a growing plant and comprising a pairof flexible weather resistant generally coincidental sheets disposed infiat face contacting relation to each other, a main slit fonned in eachof said sheets and extending from the outer edges thereof inwardly toaccommodate placement of the collar about a plant trunk, said shown inFIGS. l -3 from a plurality of sheets, it is obvious v main slits beingdisposed out of coincidence with each other,

and a plurality of internal slits formed in each of said sheets anddefining therebetween a plurality of yieldable fingers for dispositionabout the trunk of a plant, the fingers in one sheet being disposed ingenerally overlying relation with respect to the internal slits in theother sheet.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein at least one of said sheets isformed of felt impregnated with polyurethane resin.

4. A device according to claim 2 wherein the outer peripheries of thetwo sheets are substantially circular and wherein the upper sheet is ofsmaller diameter than the lower sheet and wherein a grommetlike thirdsheet having an internal diameter substantially equal to the outerdiameter of the upper one of said two sheets is disposed in coincidentalrelationship to said two sheets so as to overlie the outer portion ofthe larger one of said two sheets, said third sheet having a radial slitand a covering flap therefor.

5. A protective device for upright elements comprising a first flexiblesheet having an aperture formed therein in spaced relation to the edgesthereof, said aperture being somewhat smaller than the element, a mainslit formed in said first sheet and extending from the outer edgethereof to said aperture, a

plurality of inner slits formed in said first sheet and extendingradially outward from said aperture and defining therebetween aplurality of yieldable fingers for enveloping the element, a secondflexible sheet having an aperture formed therein, said second sheetbeing disposed in flat face contacting relation to said first sheet andwith said apertures arranged in general coincidence with each other, amain slit formed in said second sheet and extending from the aperturetherein to the outer edge thereof, and a plurality of inner slits formedin said second sheet and extending outwardly from the aperture thereinto define a plurality of yieldable fingers therebetween, the fingers ofone of said sheets being disposed in staggered relation relative to thefingers of the other sheet so as substantially to cover the spacesbetween the fingers of the other sheet.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein said main slits are disposed instaggered relation to each other.

7. A device according to claim 5 wherein said fingers are secured insnugly enveloping relationship to said upright element by a frictionelement disposed thereabout.

1. A ground collar for enveloping the trunk of a growing plantcomprising a generally flat flexible sheet having a slit thereinextending from its outer periphery inward to accommodate placement ofthe collar about the plant trunk at ground level, a first series ofradially disposed fingers formed in said sheet and arranged to envelopthe plant trunk, and a second series of radially disposed fingers formedin said sheet and in overlying relation with said first series andcovering the spaces between the fingers of said first series.
 2. Aground collar for enveloping the trunk of a growing plant and comprisinga pair of flexible weather resistant generally coincidental sheetsdisposed in flat face contacting relation to each other, a main slitformed in each of said sheets and extending from the outer edges thereofinwardly to accommodate placement of the collar about a plant trunk,said main slits being disposed out of coincidence with each other, and aplurality of internal slits formed in each of said sheets and definingtherebetween a plurality of yieldable fingers for disposition about thetrunk of a plant, the fingers in one sheet being disposed in generallyoverlying relation with respect to the internal slits in the othersheet.
 3. A device according to claim 2 wherein at least one of saidsheets is formed of felt impregnated with polyurethane resin.
 4. Adevice according to claim 2 wherein the outer peripheries of the twosheets are substantially circular and wherein the upper sheet is ofsmaller diameter than the lower sheet and wherein a grommetlike thirdsheet having an internal diameter substantially equal to the outerdiameter of the upper one of said two sheets is disposed in coincidentalrelationship to said two sheets so as to overlie the outer portion ofthe larger one of said two sheets, said third sheet having a radial slitand a covering flap therefor.
 5. A protective device for uprightelements comprising a first flexible sheet having an aperture formedtherein in spaced relation to the edges thereof, said aperture beingsomewhat smaller than the element, a main slit formed in said firstsheet and extending from the outer edge thereof to said aperture, aplurality of inner slits formed in said first sheet and extendingradially outward from said aperture and defining therebetween aplurality of yieldable fingers for enveloping the element, a secondflexible sheet having an aperture formed therein, said second sheetbeing disposed in flat face contacting relation to said first sheet andwith said apertures arranged in general coincidence with each other, amain slit formed in said second sheet and extending from the aperturetherein to the outer edge thereof, and a plurality of inner slits formedin said second sheet and extending outwardly from the aperture thereinto define a plurality of yieldable fingers therebetween, the fingers ofone of said sheets being disposed in staggered relation relative to thefingers of the other sheet so as substantially to cover the spacesbetween the fingers of the other sheet.
 6. A device according to claim 5wherein said main slits are disposed in staggered relation to eachother.
 7. A device according to claim 5 wherein said fingers are securedin snugly enveloping relationship to said upright element by a frictionelement disposed thereabout.